< IMG LOADING = "Lazy" SRSC = "/Sites/Default/Files/Styles/Medium/2025-02/AFP_20250214__36XT6PW____PREVIEW__JAPANFODICE.JPG ? iTok = 6vprgzv7" Width = "1200" ="riz" class="lazyload img-fluid image-style-max-1300x1300" src="/sites/default/files/styles/max_1300x1300/public/2025-02/AFP__20250214__36XT6PW__v1__Preview__JapanFoodRice.jpg?itok=vgMAewO-" /> Yamazaki/AFP < P > The Japanese government will unlock its strategic rice reserves, made up to respond to emergency situations, in order to counter the persistent flambé of the price of this typically Japanese basic food.
< P > Japan had already used these reservations, which have existed for almost 30 years, in response to shortages and earthquakes, but it is the first time that it unlocks them because of Tensions on prices and disturbances in the distribution. < P > The Minister of Agriculture Taku ETO announced on Friday that the government was going to unlock and put on the market 210,000 tonnes of Rice (around 3% of annual national consumption), on reserves of approximately one million tonnes. < P >Harvesting 2023 (consumed last year, therefore) had been penalized by record heat in the archipelago, reducing the offer, which made the price of rice jump in the summer of 2024.< P > Faced with a stronger demand and important disturbances of the commercial circuits, he continued to fly since.
< P > the price of average detail of a bag of five kilos was at the end of January 3,688 yen (23 euros) according to a government survey, against 2,023 yen a year earlier (12.6 euros) … an increase of 82%. < /P >< P > An additional burden for consumers, already faced with persistent inflation (+3% in December excluding fresh products). < P > “I buy rice much less often than before: I sometimes give up the idea of buying it as soon as I see the price … my parents send me rice, that's how I 'Sleeping “, sighs Eriko Kato, a 41-year-old Tokyo. < P >< Br >< Strong >-” Make profit ” –< P >In response, the Ministry of Agriculture opened the door in January for the sale of part of the national reserves, on the basis of a new regulations. < P > Japan had promulgated in 1995 a law to constitute strategic rice stocks, after a bad harvest two years ago had pushed consumers to rush in supermarkets.< P > But until recently, these government reserves could only be released in the event of a serious loss of harvest or disaster. The new rules also make it possible to use it if the distribution is and struggles to meet the needs.
< P >The recent outbreak of prices is partly explained by increased demand: with the record for the record of foreign tourists fond of sushi, but especially due to the panic purchases triggered in August by a warning to “Megaséism”, according to Masayuki Ogawa, professor At the University of Utsunomiya. < P > Paradoxically, “demand also increased because rice, the price of which was stable, was seen as a blessing in a context of 'Inflation “, explains M. Ogawa to AFP. < P > on the offer side, after the disappointing harvests of 2023, the government was betting on the arrival of The harvest of autumn 2024 to calm tensions, but that did not happen. < P > Rice production has actually increased in 2024, but the big ones Groups that supply food and supermarkets have collected 210,000 tonnes less, which could suggest that rice producers use alternative circuits, with individual resellers. < P >“We suspect (some traders) try to make a profit while waiting (to sell their stocks) that prices are still rising,” said Ogawa. The latter could resign themselves after the government announcement. < P >< Br >< Strong > – “Cheaper noodles” – < /Strong >< P > However, it is “a complicated operation”, and a brutal drop in prices could hinder the stability of rice production In the long term, warns M. Ogawa. < P > Other lever: “It should not be excluded that the government ends up increasing the imports of rice, which are strictly framed and oscillate In a narrow range of 800,000 to one million tonnes per year for 15 years “, with prohibitive customs duties, comments Marcel Thieliant, Economics Capital Analyst. < P >Especially since “Thai rice is half cheaper than Japanese reference rice”. < P > If typical Japanese rice with short grains remains emblematic in Japanese cuisine, Annual consumption per capita fell in 2022 to 50.9 kg per capita, half under 60 years ago. < P > Unlike rice, “prices Corn and wheat have dropped very strongly over the past two years “, which could encourage certain consumers to change their habits, observes M. Thieliant. < P >” I buy Even and less rice, I sometimes replace it with noodles (with wheat) + udon + or + + yakisoba + which are cheaper, “confirms Nami Tanaka, 40 -year -old tokyo, whose adolescent son finds these noodles” less nourishing ” . < P >< Strong > The article you liked ? It mobilized our editorial staff which only lives from your gifts. < Br > Information has a cost, especially since competition from subsidized writing requires additional rigor and professionalism. < P > With your support, France-Soir will continue to offer its articles free of charge & nbsp; we think that everyone must have access to free and independent information to forge their own opinion. < /p > < P > You are the sine qua non condition for our existence, support us for France-Soir to remain the French media which makes the most legitimate express.